Portable sorting system and method for recyclable material

Abstract

A system and method for sorting recyclable materials is portable, modular, and easy to install and/or remove. Generally, a variety of sorting equipment is placed upon a portable platform that may be loaded or unloaded from a roll-off truck. When at the desired location, the portable platform may be removed and the sorting equipment set up for use. The sorting equipment may include an infeed conveyor, a sorting conveyor, and a variety of automatic sorting equipment such as an aluminum blower, a magnet separator, and an eddy-current separator. The platform may be simply placed on the floor or ground at the desired location or it may be elevated by a plurality of supports.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for sorting of recyclable material using a portable platform and recycling equipment including conveyors for moving recyclable material and material sorting devices, the method comprising: 
       placing the equipment into a transport position on the platform;  
       rolling the platform onto a roll-off vehicle for transport to a first recycling location;  
       rolling the platform from the roll-off vehicle at the first recycling location;  
       assembling the recycling equipment into an operative position;  
       sorting the recyclable material;  
       disassembling the recycling equipment;  
       placing the equipment in the transport position on the platform; and  
       reloading the platform onto the vehicle for transport to a second recycling location.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising supporting the platform above the ground when unloaded from the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising dumping recyclable materials into a hopper and sorting the recyclable materials. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising operating the recycling equipment from a control panel. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  farther comprising assembling a combination of equipment from the platform at each recycling location. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising sorting recyclable material into bins. 
     
     
       7. A method for sorting recyclable materials, the method comprising: 
       transporting a system for sorting recyclable materials to a desired location using a roll-off vehicle having a tiltable bed with a plurality of rollers, the system comprising a platform vehicle, a sorting conveyor and a plurality of sorting equipment on the platform;  
       rolling the platform from the roll-off vehicle;  
       choosing from the sorting equipment;  
       setting up the chosen sorting equipment on the platform; and  
       sorting recyclable materials into a plurality of bins using the sorting conveyor and sorting equipment.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising supporting the platform above the ground when unloaded from the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. In combination with a roll-off truck having a tiltable bed with a plurality of rollers, a portable apparatus for sorting recyclable materials, the apparatus comprising: 
       a platform rollable onto and off of the tiltable bed:  
       a conveyor;  
       a sorting device;  
       a plurality of sorting receptacles;  
       the conveyor and sorting device being movable between a transport position on the platform and a use position relative to the platform.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  wherein the sorting device is an aluminum blower. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  wherein the sorting device is a magnet separator. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  wherein the sorting device is an eddy-current separator. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  wherein the conveyor is an auger conveyor. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  wherein the conveyor is a cleated incline conveyor. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  wherein the platform is supported by a plurality of legs in the use position. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of stairs leading to the platform in the use position. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus for sorting recyclable materials of  claim 9  further comprising a control panel. 
     
     
       18. A portable sorting system that is transportable upon a vehicle with a tiltable bed having a plurality of rollers, the sorting system comprising: 
       a platform rollably mountable to and removable from the tiltable bed;  
       a plurality of conveyors moveable between a transport position an the platform and a use position;  
       a plurality of sorting devices moveable between a transport position on the platform and a use position; and  
       a plurality of collection bins.  
     
     
       19. The portable sorting system of  claim 18  wherein the sorting devices includes an eddy current separator. 
     
     
       20. The portable sorting system of  claim 18  wherein the sorting devices includes an aluminum blower. 
     
     
       21. The portable sorting system of  claim 18  wherein the sorting devices includes a magnet separator.